L836 
/ 1 



Large U. S. Cents 

A Monograph on the Big Copper 

"Pennies" Coined by the 

U. S. Government from 

1793 to 1857 



By THEODORE J. VENN 

(Member American Numismatic Association) 



CHICAGO 

Published by the Author 
1915 




Large United States Cents 



A Monograph on the Big Copper "Pennies" 

Coined by the U. S. Government 

from 1793 to 1857 



By THEODORE J. VENN 

(Member American Numismatic Association) 



Giving a description of the various types and principal varie- 
ties, their relative rarity in the different states of preservation 
and their monetary value to the collector or possessor, said 
values being based on close observation of the results of 
coin auction sales and such experience as an alert collector, 
possessing discrimination as to the actual condition of coins, 
naturally would acquire through numismatic associations 
covering a period of over thirty years. Total coinage for the 
various years also is given. 



CHICAGO 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

2034 LANE COURT 



/OLUMBIA 









Pertinent Facts for Collectors 



In placing this monograph on large United States cents be- 
fore numismatists and others interested in the subject I have been 
actuated principally by the desire to dissipate the nebulous haze by 
which actual coin values so long have been surrounded. For many 
years there has been nothing approaching a consensus of opinion 
as to this matter, especially so far as the big United States cents 
in the better states of preservation are concerned. It has been a 
difficult matter — even among dealers — to get any two men thor- 
oughly to agree upon this point. True, there have been a number of 
catalogues, etc., printed, aiming in a way to give this information, 
but these have been lists issued by dealers with stocks of coins to 
sell, and comparatively few, either in buying or selling, especially 
the more experienced, have given them much weight or considera- 
tion. Cents of the higher grades and the great rarities were not 
honored by a quotation except in those instances where a few 
formed part of the stock in hand. 

During many years also there have been printed a number of 
lists giving the record prices various coins have brought at the 
different auction sales held throughout the country. These prices, 
though in most instances records of actual transactions, do not es- 
tablish anything like commercial values for the coins in question. 
This will be readily admitted when we stop to consider that these 
record prices are usually the result of two or more bidders being 
placed in active competition for coins they lack in their collections, 
and in their eagerness to secure them at once they frequently dis- 
regard all sense of value. Nor is an exceedingly low price brought 
by a coin at an auction sale any criterion as to its real value, for it 
may have been overlooked through some cause or other, and a 
similar occurrence might not take place again in years. 

It therefore must be granted that neither a high nor a low 
record auction price can be accepted as the actual commercial value 
of a coin any more than we can determine its value by the sale of 
a dealer to some collector who lacks a certain date or variety and 
will give carte blanche to secure it at any price. There is a system, 



6 IARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

however, by which something like real values may be arrived at. 
This is the law of averages, which will hold good in coins as in 
other things. The only exceptions will be found in the extreme 
rarities or in unique pieces, where, naturally, the seller's price is 
the only one. 

Acting upon this fact, I have appended to each date in this 
monograph on cents what may be considered its true value in the 
various states of preservation. Except in the case of cents which 
may be classed as rare or scarce I shall not quote values on any 
condition short of very good, and in the cases of rarities I shall 
not give coins which are in poor condition any consideration. I do 
not consider any ordinary date short of very good worth purchas- 
ing, while a poor specimen of a rare date also may prove difficult 
to get rid of should the collector feel disposed to do so to secure 
a better one. If a man wishes to buy poor coins that is his privilege, 
but I always feel that we should add the injunction of the old 
Roman law, "Caveat emptor" ("Let the buyer beware"). 

The prices I have given represent fair averages based on many 
years' observation and personal experience in auction and private 
sales. I aim to give only the various types and principal varieties 
of cents. The minor varieties do not interest the general collector 
of cents and the specialist is already well provided for by the works 
of Crosby, Doughty, Hays, Gilbert, Frossard, Elder, Andrews and 
the recent laborious work of Dr. McGirk. 

In conclusion I wish to state that I believe the collector who 
will largely govern himself according to the data here given will 
find little cause for dissatisfaction should he ever feel disposed or 
compelled to part with his numismatic treasures. Discrimination 
as to condition must be largely left to the purchaser, as there is 
frequently a tendency to overdescribe the condition of rare coins, 
especially in the direction of extremely fine and uncirculated cents. 
Coins without blemishes, especially in the uncirculated cent class, 
are "rare birds," and it will be the course of wisdom to make due 
allowance for all defects. In many respects extremely fine cents, 
as they are nowadays catalogued in sales, are to be preferred to so- 
called uncirculated specimens, as these are at times marred by 
dents, scratches and abrasions due to cabinet wear, which greatly 
detracts from their appearance. In fact, it is very hard to find an 
immaculate uncirculated cent. I do not take cognizance of proof 
cents, as it is impossible to get anything like a full collection of 
these, and a number of so-called proofs are to be viewed with more 
or less suspicion. The consideration of these coins and their values 



large united states cents 7 

must be left largely to the judgment and fancy of the individual 
collector and the limit to which he will go in his eagerness to' se- 
cure them. 

I am convinced that the data compiled for this monograph, 
covering a long period of years and based upon numerous cases 
of open competition such as is afforded in public auctions, will do 
more to establish stability in coin values and create confidence in 
the average collector of cents than any other method that might be 
chosen. Every experienced collector of large cents knows that 
choice specimens of the scarcer dates are hard to secure and readily 
hold their values, and if any further evidence was necessary to es- 
tablish this fact it has been amply provided by the sales of the last 
eight months, which have shown that despite war and financial 
stringency the finer grades of large cents have held their own. 
Hence any publication relating to actual coin conditions and facts 
can but redound to the benefit of the collector and evoke additional 
interest in the science of numismatics, which is, after all, the prin- 
cipal object to be desired. 

THEODORE J. VENN. 

Chicago, 111., April 5, 1915. 



Large United States Cents 



It should be clearly borne in mind that the values given for the 
different dates and conditions are neither high nor low auction 
price records, but are average prices based on the results of com- 
petitive bidding at sales during the past eight or ten years. On 
uncirculated coins a price range is given, the first indicated value 
covering uncirculated coins which were to a greater or less degree 
defective, the higher quotation being the average price which ex- 
emplary specimens brought. It would be impossible to calculate 
any average for the slightly defective pieces, as the descriptions of 
these differ so greatly, but the range between the high and low 
quotations for uncirculated cents is sufficiently large to include 
them all. For instance, an uncirculated cent showing slight traces 
of cabinet wear generally brings a price about midway between the 
quoted high and low values. 



1793 Chain Cent. This is a rare cent and extremely difficult 
to find in a condition better than very fine. Many of the pieces 
were lightly struck originally, especially on the obverse, and hence 
were able to offer little resistance against the hard wear of circu- 
lation. There are three generally accepted minor varieties of this 
cent, known as those with and without periods after the date and 
the so-called AMERL cent, due to the fact that the word 
AMERICA on the reverse of the coin is abbreviated as indicated 
instead of being spelled out in full as in the case of the two first 
mentioned varieties. The AMERL will be found far scarcer than 
either of the other chain cents. Values: Fair, $3; very fair, 
$3.50 ; good, $4.25 ; very good, $5.50 ; fine, $10.50 ; very fine, $18 ; 
extremely fine, $35 ; uncirculated, $50 to $80. 

1793 Wreath Cent. A very scarce cent, which, like its prede- 
cessor, the chain cent, also has three well defined varieties, which 
relate principally to the difference in the sprigs between the date 
and bust and also to slight modifications in the wreaths and frac- 
tions on the reverse of the coins. The first variety, known as the 

8 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 9 

four-leaf clover or strawberry sprig is extremely rare, and there- 
fore may practically be dismissed from the equation. The other 
two varieties are known as the olive sprigs, three leaved, in one of 
which the center leaf stands practically upright, in the other it has 
a decided inclination or slant to the right ; in fact, all three leaves 
slant decidedly toward the right. In addition to these varieties 
there are also minor ones in this and also in the other, two types 
of the 1793 cent which the late Mr. Crosby has admirably described 
in his excellent monograph on 1793 cents and half cents, but these 
minor differentiations interest only the specialist and not the gen- 
eral collector, and hence require no extended treatment in a work 
intended principally for the man who is merely interested in secur- 
ing acceptable specimens of well recognized varieties. Values: 
Fair, $2.50; very fair, $3; good, $3.75; very good, $4.75; fine, 
$8.50 ; very fine, $15 ; extremely fine, $28 ; uncirculated, $35 to $60. 

1793 Liberty Cap Cent. This cent classes among the great 
rarities and is possibly the rarest of all the United States cents. It 
is seldom found in better than very fine condition and even as a 
fine cent it is greatly prized. Values : Fair, $4.50 ; very fair, 
$5.50 ; good, $8 ; very good, $12 ; fine, $25 ; very fine, $50. On ac- 
count of the fact that this coin is seldom offered in better than very 
fine condition its value in the higher grades of preservation must 
be left largely to conjecture. I doubt whether there is an absolutely 
uncirculated specimen in existence. If so, it no doubt would be 
considered cheap at $150 by many numismatists. 

[The beginner should beware of the Smith counterfeits, made 
years ago, in buying choice 1793 cents. These counterfeits were 
skillfully executed and are likely to deceive the amateur. Patronize 
only responsible dealers when buying rare or scarce cents in fine 
condition.] 

1794 Cent. This cent has been classified into fifty-seven vari- 
eties by Hays and hence offers a very interesting field to the spe- 
cialist, to which fact is due its relative scarcity in fine or better con- 
dition. The collector who is satisfied with one or two fine speci- 
mens will not experience much difficulty in securing same at a 
moderate price, but he who is bent on specializing will find that a 
number of minor varieties are difficult to get in better than very 
good condition except at an outlay at which the average collector 
will hesitate. Hence I shall base the value of the 1794 cent on 
the average specimen offered, excluding the rarer minor varieties, 
especially in choice condition, from the price equation. Values : 



10 i^arge: united states cents 

Fair, 35 cents ; very fair, 50 cents ; good, 80 cents ; very good, 
$1.25 ; fine, $3 ; very fine $5.75 ; extremely fine, $10 ; uncirculated, 
$15.00 to $22.50. 

1795 Cent. There are four well recognized minor varieties of 
this cent : The thick planchet with lettered edge and without let- 
tered edge, and two varieties of the thin planchet, the one with the 
words "One Cent" high in wreath on the reverse, the other with 
the words occupying their natural position. The thick planchet 
with lettered edge is by far the scarcest of these coins. The ma- 
jority of all these coins have the top of the figure 5 in date merged 
in the bust, and a 1795 cent in extremely fine or uncirculated con- 
dition with the entire date clear of the bust may well be looked 
upon as a numismatic treasure. The 1795 cent is scarcer than the 
1794 in any condition. Values : Fair, 40 cents ; very fair, 60 cents ; 
good, 90 cents ; very good, $1.35 ; fine. $3.25 ; very fine, $6.50 ; ex- 
tremely fine, $12 ; uncirculated, $18 to> $30. Some collectors would 
not deem $50 an exorbitant figure for an absolutely uncirculated 
specimen of the rarest variety. 

[As the total coinage of United States cents for the years 
1793, 1794 and 1795, including all varieties, was only 1,066,033, 
the collector may readily figure out for himself why it is so diffi- 
cult to secure the early dates in choice condition after a lapse of 
more than one hundred years. Even under the best of care copper 
coins are bound to deteriorate in condition with the march of time 
unless they are placed in some hermetically sealed receptacle, cor- 
rosion being one of the principal factors to contend with. Besides, 
copper is very susceptible to atmospheric conditions and even vio- 
lent changes of temperature are apt to bring about discolorations, 
while long exposure to moisture is almost certain to prove fatal to 
the appearance of any cent, except mayhap to those who prefer 
their copper coins patinated as a mark of venerable age.] 

1796 Liberty Cap Cent. This mintage marks the end of the 
"Liberty Cap" type of cent. There are a number of minor varie- 
ties of this year's coinage of varying degrees of rarity. Mr. Gilbert 
and Mr. Elder in collaboration with Mr. Gilbert have written 
brochures on the 1796 cent which are entitled to high commenda- 
tion on the part of variety specialists. Their researches show that 
in the matter of minor differentiations the 1796 cent is almost as 
prolific as the 1794. In these slight distinctions, however, the aver- 
age collector will not be greatly interested. Suffice it to say that 
all 1796 cents are scarce and in extremely fine condition they are 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 11 

all great rarities. Values : Fair, 50 cents ; very fair, 75 cents ; good, 
$1; very good, $1.50; fine, $3.75; very fine, $8.50; extremely fine, 
$20 ; uncirculated, $30 to $50. 

1796 Fillet Head Cent. With the advent of this cent began 
the coinage of the "Fillet Head" type, which continued until 1808. 
This type of 1796 is slightly scarcer than the Liberty cap type and 
it also includes a number of minor varieties which appeal to the 
specialist. The rarest of these is the so-called "LIHERTY" 1796, 
due to an error in die cutting. This variety is seldom found in 
better condition than very good. The 1796 cent has for years been 
classed as the fifth in rarity of the U. S. cents, and though this 
classification may be correct, yet I am often inclined to the belief 
that it is really a scarcer cent than the 1809. There can be little 
doubt that it is in any grade above fine condition. It is a cent much 
sought for and no collection can be considered complete without a 
specimen of each type. As to value, the Fillet head is worth about 
10 per cent more than the Liberty cap in any grade above very 
good. The total coinage of 1796 cents was 974,700. 

1797 Cent. Another cent containing a great number of minor 
varieties, the scarcest of which are the knobless 9, the plain rim and 
the stemless wreath. The commonest variety is the indented rim. 
The 1797 cent offers no great difficulty to the collector in any grade 
up to fine or very fine. Values : Very fair, 25 cents ; good, 45 
cents ; very good, 75 cents ; fine, $1.50 ; very fine, $3.25 ; extremely 
fine $8.50 ; uncirculated, $12 to $20. Total coinage, 897,510. 

1798 Cent. Here we have another "penny" with numerous 
minor varieties, scarcest of which are the small date over 1797, 
the small date with the reverse of 1796 and the large date with 
milled border, all of which are hard to find in fine condition. In 
ordinary condition the 1798 is the commonest of all the eighteenth 
century cents, and with the exception of the rare varieties men- 
tioned the collector will experience little trouble in securing a 
specimen up to very fine. The extremely fine and uncirculated 
1798s, however, are rapidly joining the ranks of their rarer breth- 
ren. Values: Very fair, 20 cents; good, 35 cents; very good, 60 
cents ; fine $1.25 ; very fine, $2.50 ; extremely fine, $6 ; uncirculated, 
$10 to $15. Total coinage, 979,700. 

1799 Cent. This is the aristocrat among U. S. Cents, and 
consists of two varieties, the 1799 over 1798 and the perfect date. 
Although the overdate is considered by many numismatists the 
rarer coin, I deem that prudence suggests the purchase of the per- 



12 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

feet date unless a collector is interested in varieties and desires a 
specimen of each. There is no question as to this being the rarest 
of the cents considered from the standpoint of date alone, though 
there are possibly at least two varieties of other dates that will 
closely approximate if not surpass it — namely, the 1793 Liberty 
cap and the 1839 over 1836. The reason the latter does not bring 
anything like the price of the 1799 is because it is only sought by 
variety collectors and hence the demand is very limited. The total 
coinage of 1799 cents was 904,585 — a relatively large number — 
and conjecture frequently arises why, in view of this fact, the coin 
should be so excessively rare even in the ordinary conditions. The 
most rational explanation is probably the fact that in the early days 
of this Republic all copper, even for our own coinage, was import- 
ed from Europe, and as the demand for the metal was large for 
use in the mechanical and industrial arts, and the stocks of copper 
were small and means of transportation slow and cumbersome, es- 
pecially in the remotely lying districts, artisans who required only 
a small amount of the metal took to using the large copper cents, 
as the supply was ready to hand. This was the most economical 
method to pursue, as there was practically a full cent's worth of the 
metal in every "penny." It is estimated that in this way tens of 
thousands of the early large cents found their way into the melting 
pot. Why the 1799 cent should have proved the greatest sufferer 
is a hard question to answer unless it probably was because they 
were most numerous at the time in the sections where the greatest 
demand for metal existed. Values : Fair, $6 ; very fair, $8 ; good, 
$12 ; very good, $20 ; fine, $35 ; very fine, $75. There have been a 
few instances where extremely fine 1799 cents have been offered 
at auction, one of which, I understand, sold at $350. I doubt 
whether there is an absolutely uncirculated specimen in existence, 
but, if so, I believe a purchaser could be found for it at somewhere 
between $300 and $500. 

[The beginner should be on his guard for altered dates in this 
cent, as there are a number of them in existence, most of the work 
being very crude and not likely to deceive even the novice. The 
greatest danger lies in the altered dates of the 1798 cent. In former 
years a number of electrotype cents of this and other rare dates 
were made to sell to collectors who were satisfied to purchase them 
to fill their collections. These consist of copper shells filled with 
type metal and on some of them the work was quite artistically 
done. However, they are not likely to deceive anyone who has been 
accustomed to handling coins.] 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 13 

1800 Cent. This coinage consists, besides the 1800 perfect 
date, of three overdates, over 1790, over 1798 and over 1799, of 
which the two latter varieties are scarcest. Rather a difficult cent 
to secure in the superior grades. Values : Very fair, 35 cents ; 
good, 50 cents ; very good, 75 cents ; fine, $1.50 ; very fine, $3.50 ; 
extremely fine, $8 ; uncirculated, $15 to $25. Total coinage, 
2,822,175. 

1801 Cent. As to rarity in the varying conditions, this cent 
is about on a parity with the preceding date. There are three well 
recognized minor varieties besides the perfect date, the 1-000, the 
1-100 over 1-000, and what is generally known as the UNITED 
variety, the latter two being the scarcest. Values : Very fair, 30 
cents ; good, 40 cents ; very good, 75 cents; fine, $1.75 ; very fine, 
$3.50 ; extremely fine, $7.50 ; uncirculated, $16 to $25. Total coin- 
age, 1,362,837. 

1802 Cent. This cent has the largest coinage of any of the 
early cents prior to 1817, the total number of pieces struck being 
3,435,100. There are a number of minor varieties, such as the 
stemless wreath, one stem to wreath and variations in the fraction, 
which interest the specialist but not the general collector. This 
cent is quite common in any condition up to fine, and, though 
scarce in the finer grades, like all early cents, in no condition can 
it be classed as a rarity. Hence no collector will be interested in 
any grade short of good. Values : Good, 25 cents ; very good, 40 
cents; fine, 75 cents; very fine, $1.75; extremely fine, $3.75; un- 
circulated, $8 to $12. 

1803 Cent. Although the U. S. Mint records show that 
there were nearly a million fewer pieces of this date struck than in 
1802, the exact number being 2,471,353, long observation has de- 
monstrated that there are fully as many, if not more, specimens of 
this date in existence in the better grades of preservation than of 
the 1802 coinage. A number of minor varieties also mark this 
cent, such as large and small, wide and narrow dates, differences 
in wreaths and fractions. Values : Good, 20 cents ; very good, 35 
cents ; fine, 75 cents ; very fine, $1.50 ; extremely fine, $3.50 ; uncir- 
culated, $7 to $10. 

1804 Cent. The 1804 cent justly holds the distinction of be- 
ing classed as second in rarity among the large U. S. "pennies." 
Some numismatists go to the extent of declaring that it is entitled 
to first place, but experience and observation will disprove this 
contention. The only ground for this claim lies in the fact that at 



14 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

times it appears to be more difficult to secure an 1804 in good to 
very good condition than a similar specimen of the 1799. But this 
is readily accounted for. Being a comparatively cheaper coin than 
the 1799, a greater number of collectors aim to acquire possession 
of both varieties of the 1804 cent than is the case with the 1799 
date. Besides, auction sales of high grade collections of cents have 
time and again demonstrated that the condition of the 1804 cents 
offered far surpasses that of the 1799s, and as a rule their number 
is greater. However, notwithstanding the different views numis- 
matists hold as to the relative rarity of these two dates, there are 
two points on which they will thoroughly agree — namely, that 
either coin in extremely fine condition is exceedingly hard to find, 
and, when discovered, its price will be found sufficiently high to 
satisfy the most enthusiastic adherent of either side of the conten- 
tion. Of the two varieties of this cent, the perfect and the broken 
die, the former is the more desirable coin. Values : Fair, 3.50 ; 
very fair, $4.50; good, $6; very good, $7.5(T; fine, $15; very fine, 
$35 ; extremely fine, $60; uncirculated, $85 to $125. There is lit- 
tle doubt that an absolutely uncirculated specimen of this date, 
without scratches or blemishes of any kind, and perfectly centered, 
would find a purchaser at somewhere between $125 and $175. 
Total coinage, 756,838. 

[There are a number of altered dates of the 1804 cent in ex- 
istence and the beginner should be on the lookout for them. These 
alterations are readily detected by the experienced collector. In 
the true 1804 the cipher in the date and the O in OF in UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA on the reverse of the coin are directly 
opposite each other. Also, the figure 4 in the 1804 is of the cross- 
let variety and this crosslet or crossed 4 is a difficult thing to re- 
produce in an altered date. Of late years a monstrosity has also 
appeared which is called a restrike 1804. This so-called restrike 
is a mere counterfeit, was not struck from an original broken die, 
and should neither have a place in the cabinet of a collector nor the 
stock of a dealer.] 

1805 Cent. This year's coinage in the better states of preser- 
vation is growing scarcer than many collectors and even dealers 
realize. Of the two varieties, the blunt and the perfect 1, the lat- 
ter is the rarer. Values : Very fair, 25 cents ; good, 40 cents ; very 
good, 75 cents ; fine, $1.50 ; very fine, $3.50 ; extremely fine, $8 ; 
uncirculated, $12 to $20. Total coinage, 941,116. 

1806 Cent. The cent of 1806 has for years been given a 
place among the scarcer cents, and justly so, for it is rather diffi- 



LARGE) UNITED STATES CENTS 15 

cult to find many specimens better than very fine, and even these are 
not numerous. As an extremely fine or uncirculated cent it is a 
rara avis. Values : Fair, 25 cents ; very fair, 40 cents ; good, 65 
cents ; very good, $1 ; fine, $2.25 ; very fine, $5.50 ; extremely fine, 
$10 ; uncirculated, $18 to $25. Total coinage, 348,000. 

1807 Cent. Similar to most of the other cents of early date, 
this "penny" is found in a number of minor varieties, principal 
among which are the 1807 over 1806 with blunt 1 and perfect 1, 
and the varieties with large and small 1-100. In addition there is 
also the so-called "Comet" variety, which is due to a break or ad- 
hesion in the die. This "Comet" cent is hard to find in better than 
very good or fine condition. There are also a great many "freaks" 
to be found in this date, "pennies" in which the reverses are upside 
down, or "upset" as it is usually designated, sideways, etc. Values : 
Very fair, 20 cents ; good, 35 cents ; very good, 50 cents ; fine, 
$1.25 ; very fine, $2.50 ; extremely fine, $6.50 ; uncirculated, $15 to 
$20. Total coinage, 727,221. 

1808 Cent. This cent marks the inauguration of a new type 
of "penny" the coinage of which continued up to and including the 
mintage of 1814. The head now faces to left instead of to the right 
and the fillet is displaced by a different style of headdress in which 
the introduction of a band or ribbon inscribed with the word 
LIBERTY produces a semi-coronet effect. From this date on we 
find the cents bearing stars on the obverse, the type now under dis- 
cussion having thirteen, seven to the left and six to the right of 
the head. This cent in reality has no varieties, what is popularly 
termed the twelve star variety being caused by an adhesion in the 
die which partly obliterated one of the stars to the left by not per- 
mitting it to fill properly, thus producing what may properly be 
termed a defective or poorly executed cent. The 1808 coinage 
may be classed as comparatively scarce, but is only rare in the finer 
states of preservation. Values : Very fair, 25 cents ; good, 35 
cents ; very good 50 cents ; fine, 1.50 ; very fine, $3.50 ; extremely 
fine, $8.50 ; uncirculated, $18 to $25. Total coinage, 1,109,000. 

1809 Cent. In this date we have what long has been termed 
the fourth in rarity of the series of large U. S. cents. While not 
positively disputing this claim, I am inclined at times to cede the 
honor to the 1796. While there were a far greater number of 1796 
"pennies" coined than of the 1809 mintage, I believe a smaller 
number have survived in such condition as to make them accept- 
able specimens to the average collector. The 1809 cent is an over- 



16 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

date, being struck from the 1808 dies, and is not distinguished by 
varieties. It is very difficult to find an extremely fine, sharply 
struck 1809 cent. Values : Fair, 50 cents ; very fair, 80 cents ; 
good, $1.25 ; very good, $1.75 ; fine, $4.25 ; very fine, $10 ; extreme- 
ly fine, $18 ; uncirculated, $30 to $40. Total coinage, 222,867. 

1810 Cent. We find the 1810 cent in two recognized varie- 
ties, the perfect date and the 1810 over 1809, of which the latter is 
probably the scarcer "penny." It is extremely difficult to find a 
sharp, well struck, perfectly centered 1810 cent, even among speci- 
mens entitled in every other respect to an extremely fine classifica- 
tion, and this date consequently has proven a stumbling block to 
many a collector whose tastes bordered on the hypercritical. An 
1810 cent that will meet every requirement of the well informed 
and discriminating collector is certainly a "gem." In the ordinary 
grades, that is, below fine, the piece is not at all scarce. Values : 
Very fair, 15 cents ; good, 25 cents ; very good, 40 cents ; fine, 
$1.25 ; very fine, $3 ; extremely fine, $8 ; uncirculated, $18 to $25. 
Total coinage, 1,458,500. 

1811 Cent. The 1811 cent well deserves to be classed among 
the rarer of the large "pennies," the total coinage of this year being 
only 218,025. As in the case of the 1810 cent, this date also exists 
in two varieties, the 1811 over 1810 and the perfect date, the over- 
date being the scarcer coin. The 1811 cents in the higher grades 
of preservation are very desirable coins, much sought for and 
rarely found. Values : Fair, 30 cents ; very fair, 50 cents ; good, 
85 cents ; very good, $1.25 ; fine, $3.25 ; very fine, $7.50 ; extremely 
fine, $15 ; uncirculated, $25 to $35. 

1812 Cent. In the 1812 coinage we also are provided with 
two well-known varieties, the large date and the small date cent, 
the small date being the scarcer of the two. A third variety, the 
small date with large figure 8, also has received considerable re- 
cognition from the average collector during the past few years. 
Choice specimens of this coinage still may be secured at compar- 
atively reasonable figures. Values : Good, 20 cents ; very good, 
35 cents; fine, 85 cents; very fine, $1.75; extremely fine, $3.25; 
uncirculated, $6 to $10. Total coinage, 1,075,500. 

1813 Cent. Here we have another cent whose claims to 
scarcity, especially in the finer conditions, are well founded. Al- 
though a number of attempts have been made during recent years 
to establish minor varieties for this cent on account of the relative 
position of a certain berry in the wreath on the reverse to> the let- 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 17 

ter S in STATES, I do not consider the marks of differentiation 
sufficiently strong to uphold the claim. Of course, these minute 
distinctions will always interest the specialist, but I believe the 
average collector will subscribe to my view in this matter. Cents 
of 1813 will be found hard to secure in better than very fine con- 
dition. Values : Fair, 20 cents ; very fair, 35 cents ; good, 60 
cents ; very good, $1.00 ; fine, $1.50 ; very fine, $3.25 ; extremely 
fine, $7.50 ; uncirculated, $15 to $20. Total coinage, 418,000. 

1814 Cent. Now we come to what collectors frequently refer 
to as "the last year of the early types of cents." This "penny" is 
found in two varieties, known as- the plain 4 and the crosslet 4. 
The crosslet 4 is the scarcer variety. Although the sales records 
show a smaller value for this cent than for the 1812 "penny," I 
believe the 1814 to be the scarcer cent, especially in the crosslet 
variety. The coinage in this year was only a little over one third 
that of 1812 and I think collectors and dealers will some day 
awaken to a realization of the fact that 1814 cents in the superior 
grades are a scarcer article than they had imagined. I incline to 
the belief that the number of numismatists collecting both varieties 
of the 1814 is not as great as that of those who collect the varieties 
of the 1812. Why this should be the case I do not know, as there 
is certainly a marked difference in the two varieties of the 1814 
date. Should this condition of affairs ever change, there probably 
will be quite a scramble for the high grade 1814 cents some day. 
Values : Good, 15 cents ; very good, 35 cents ; fine, 85 cents ; very 
fine, $1.75 ; extremely fine, $3.25 ; uncirculated, $5.50 to $9. Total 
coinage, 357,830. 

1815. There was no coinage of cents in 1815. This was due 
to the fact that the Philadelphia mint was destroyed by fire during 
that year, and this is the only year since the cent was first struck 
that the Government has failed to coin "pennies." Occasionally a 
few so-called 1815 cents turn up. These naturally are all changed 
dates and in most instances the work is crudely done. The majority 
of these cents would not even deceive an amateur, while they are 
the laughing stock of the cognoscenti. 

1816 Cent. Beginning with the coinage of this year, we are 
again introduced to a new type of cent, which, with a few slight 
modifications, continued in use until the latter part of 1839. The 
head still faces to the left, but the bust has been greatly shortened. 
There is also a marked difference in the coiffure, or arrangement 
of the hair, and the band with inscription LIBERTY is set at a 



18 large; united states cents 

different angle, producing a more pronounced coronet effect. In 
addition, the thirteen stars now form a complete circle on the 
outer edge of the field with the exception of the space occupied by 
the date. The 1816 cent is found in two varieties, known as the 
perfect and the broken die, of which the latter is the more com- 
mon coin. The 1816 cent is readily procurable in the better states 
of preservation. Values: Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 25 cents; 
very fine, 50 cents; extremely fine, 85 cents; uncirculated, $1.25 to 
$2. Total coinage, 2,820,982. 

1817 Cent, 13 Stars. This cent has two well recognized va- 
rieties, known generally as the wide and the compact date, but 
among a number of numismatists the various differences in spacing 
between the figures in the dates and their relative positions to the 
point of the bust have again led to subclassifications. The 1817 
13 -star cent is readily procurable in extremely fine and uncirculat- 
ed condition. Values : Very good, 10 cents ; fine, 20 cents ; very 
fine, 40 cents ; extremely fine, 75 cents ; uncirculated, $1 to $1.75. 
The more common type, in which bust points to figure 8 in date, 
often may be purchased in uncirculated condition, red, for 35 cents. 
Total coinage, 3,948,400. 

1817 Cent, 15 Stars. I describe this cent under a different 
head because the variety is sufficiently marked to attract the atten- 
tion of even the incipient collector and therefore no collection can 
be considered complete lest it contain a specimen both of the 13 
and 15 star varieties of the 1817 "penny." This cent is entitled to 
consideration as a rarity in better than very fine condition, and is 
scarce even as a fine or very fine coin. Values : Good, 20 cents ; 
very good, 35 cents ; fine, $1 ; very fine, $1.75 ; extremely fine, 
$4.50; uncirculated, $6.50 to $10. There are no separate coinage 
figures on the 1817 15-star cent. 

1818 Cent. This cent has three well recognized minor varie- 
ties, known as the wide and compact dates and the connected star 
1818, of which the latter is most frequently encountered in the bet- 
ter grades of preservation. There are also a number of subclassi- 
fications of these varieties relative to the nearness of stars to date, 
etc., matters with which only the specialist is concerned. Values : 
Very good, 10 cents ; fine, 20 cents ; very fine, 40 cents ; extremely 
fine, 70 cents ; uncirculated, $1 to $1.75. Total coinage, 3,167,000. 
Uncirculated specimens of the more common connected star or 
broken die variety frequently may be secured for 35 to 50 cents. 

1819 Cent. Like its predecessor, the 1818 cent, this "penny" 
also has three well defined varieties, the large date (the 1819 over 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 19 

1818), the small wide-spaced date and the small compact date, the 
latter and the overdate being the scarcest of the three varieties. 
Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 25 cents ; very fine, 50 cents ; 
extremely fine, 85 cents ; uncirculated, $1.25 to $2. Total coinage, 
2,671,000. 

1820 Cent. In this cent there are six fairly well recognized 
minor varieties — the large and small dates over the 181 dies, the 
large perfect date, the small date with stars close, the small date 
with stars distant, and the small 2 with connected stars. With the 
exception of the last named variety, which is quite common and 
may often be secured in uncirculated condition for 35 to 50 cents, 
there is no' great divergence in value in any of the minor varieties. 
Values : Very good, 10 cents ; fine, 20 cents ; very fine, 40 cents ; 
extremely fine, 70 cents ; uncirculated, $1 to $1.75. Total coinage 
for the year was large, 4,407,550. 

1821 Cent. In describing this cent we again have to deal 
with what unquestionably may be considered one of the scarcer 
date United States cents in any condition above fine, and in ex- 
tremely fine and uncirculated condition it may be placed in the 
ranks of the rarities. Of its two minor varieties, the wide and the 
compact date, the latter is the more desirable coin. The 1821 cents 
will not be found very numerous even in good and very good con- 
dition. Values : Good, 25 cents ; very good, 40 cents ; fine, $1.25 ; 
very fine, $3.25 ; extremely fine, $8 to $12 ; uncirculated, $18 to $25. 
Total coinage, 389,000. 

1822 Cent. There are two generally accepted minor varieties 
of the 1822 cent, the wide and the compact date, of which the latter 
is the scarcer variety. Cents of this date in extremely fine and un- 
circulated condition are far scarcer than most collectors realize, 
which statement is attested by the fact that exemplary specimens 
were considered of sufficient rarity to be given plate reproduction 
at times in sales catalogues issued over a quarter century ago. 
Values : Very good, 20 cents ; fine, 85 cents ; very fine, $1.75 ; ex- 
tremely fine, $3.25; uncirculated, $8 to $12. Total coinage, 
2,072,339. 

1823 Cent. Here we have what to a certain degree may be 
called the "mystery" cent of the U. S. "penny" series, as there are 
no mint figures or statistics as to the number coined. Owing to 
this fact some numismatists have gone to such an extent as to ex- 
press their doubts as to whether there were any cents actually 
coined in this year, claiming that the dies probably were cut, but 



20 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

no cents struck until the subsequent year. I believe this claim 
should be dismissed as having absolutely no evidence to stand on, 
the absence of mint figures in all probability being due either to 
oversight or loss of statistics. This cent is found in two minor 
varieties, the 1823 over 1822 and the perfect date, there being no 
appreciable difference in their scarcity. In extremely fine or uncir- 
culated condition this cent is classed among the great rarities, and 
in few sales even of superior collections do we find the coin listed 
in a better grade than fine or very fine. Values : Good, 35 cents ; 
very good, 60 cents ; fine, $2.50 ; very fine, $7.50 ; extremely fine, 
$35 to $50. There are not sufficient data on which to place an 
average value for an uncirculated specimen of this coin, but there 
is an auction record of $170. However, as the coin in this condi- 
tion is so rarely offered, when the occasion does occur there is such 
spirited competition among a few bidders that the price secured 
would hardly establish a fair basis of valuation. There is a so- 
called restrike of this coin made from the broken dies which may 
be secured in uncirculated condition at anywhere from $2.50 to $4. 
I always have viewed this coin with more or less suspicion, and I 
gravely doubt whether it should be given place in a collection of 
cents. 

1824 Cent. The cent of 1824 is another of the series of large 
"pennies" which will be found not readily securable in the higher 
states of preservation. The generally accepted varieties are three 
in number — namely, the wide and the compact date and the 1824 
over 1822, of which the overdate is the most difficult to find, al- 
though the premium it commands over the other two varieties is 
only slight. Values : Very good, 35 cents ; fine, $1 ; very fine, 
$2.25 ; extremely fine, $4.50 ; uncirculated, $9 to $12. Total coin- 
age, 1,262,000. 

1825 Cent. The coinage of this year occupies about the same 
position as to scarcity as the cent of the previous year. If any- 
thing, the 1825 "penny" is a trifle more plentiful. There are two 
well accepted varieties, these being distinguished by the large and 
the small letters A in the word AMERICA on the reverse of the 
coin. The small lettered coin is least frequently found. Values : 
Very good, 35 cents ; fine, $1 ; very fine, $2 ; extremely fine, $4.25 ; 
uncirculated, $8 to 12. Total coinage, 1,461,100. 

1826 Cent. In the 1826 "penny" we have another cent with 
three generally accredited varieties, known as the 1826 over 1825, 
the wide and the compact date. The overdate is quite a rare cent 



large; united states cents 21 

in the finer conditions and the compact date has a slight call over 
the wide date variety. Values : Very good, 25 cents ; fine, 75 
cents ; very fine, $1.50 ; extremely fine, $3 ; uncirculated, $5 to $8. 
Total coinage, 1,517,425. 

1827 Cent. Although many efforts have been made to create 
minor varieties for this cent owing to the various positions figures 
in the date occupy relative to certain well marked features of other 
portions of the coin, principally the hair curl and point of the bust, 
these distinctions have not been generally accepted by the average 
collector. The same statement holds good as regards die breaks, 
of which a number of interesting varieties may be found in this as 
well as a majority of all the other dates. While a number of -col- 
lectors lay great stress on these differentiations and prize such 
specimens highly it has so far proven rather difficult to interest the 
general collector in the matter. Values: Very good, 20 cents; 
fine, 75 cents; very fine, 1.50; extremely fine, $2.75; uncirculated, 
$4 to $7. Total coinage, 2,357,732. 

1828 Cent. The 1828 coinage provides us with three varie- 
ties — the overdate with the 2 outlined over 8, which is rather 
scarce ; the large date and the small date cent, the latter being quite 
a rare coin in extremely fine condition. Values : Very good, 25 
cents ; fine $1 ; very fine, $1.75 ; extremely fine, $3.75 ; uncirculated, 
$6 to $9. Total coinage, 2,260,624. 

1829 Cent. Two varieties mark the mintage of 1829 cents, 
the distinguishing features being the large and the small letters on 
the reverse of the coin. As to scarcity, especially in the finer 
grades, the two varieties are about on a par. Values : Very good, 
25 cents ; fine, 75 cents ; very fine, $1.50 ; extremely fine, $3 ; uncir- 
culated, $5 to $8. Total coinage, 1,414,500. 

1830 Cent. As in the cent of the preceding year, the 1830 
coinage also gives us the varieties with large letters and small let- 
ters on the reverse. In addition there are also a number of inter- 
esting die breaks, known by various appellations, but these coins, 
as previously stated, are sought only by the specialist or those to 
whom the imperfect die makes an especial appeal and not by the 
average collector. The 1830 cent in fine and better condition has 
been growing rather scarce of late years. Values : Very good, 20 
cents ; fine, 35 cents ; very fine, 85 cents ; extremely fine, $1.75 ; un- 
circulated, $3 to $4.50. Total coinage, 1,711,500. 

1831 Cent. This year's mintage also presents the large and 
small letter reverses, of which the latter is the scarcer variety. 



22 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

Cents of 1831 are quite common. Values : Very good, 15 cents ; 
fine, 25 cents ; very fine, 50 cents ; extremely fine, $1.25 ; uncircu- 
lated, $2 to $3.50. As in the case of all the cents, exceptionally fine 
uncirculated specimens, in the original color — mint red — all stars 
and outlines sharp — will frequently bring a higher price at auction 
than the latter figure. However, I consider any 1831 cent over- 
bought at anything beyond that price. Total coinage, 3,359,260. 

1832 Cent. With the 1832 cent it is another case of large 
and small letter reverses. In addition, there are a number of die 
breaks and we also find doubly struck cents, or double profiles, as 
they are commonly called. The 1832 coinage is quite scarce in bet- 
ter than very fine condition, and this also will be found to be the 
case in the mintage of the four following years. This is to be at- 
tributed largely to the fact that the metal used in these years was 
of an exceptionally soft character and hence the coins abraded and 
wore down in circulation more rapidly than those containing harder 
metal or in which a greater per cent of alloy was used. Values : 
Very good, 20 cents; fine, 50 cents; very fine, $1.25; extremely 
fine, $2.50 ; uncirculated, $4 to $6. Total coinage, 2,362,000. 

1833 Cent. Once again we have the large and small lettered 
reverses, the generally accepted varieties. There also< have 
been many attempts to create an additional variety on account of a 
slight difference in the figure 8 in date — the so-called "horned 8" 
variety. Up to date, however, this subclassification has not been 
much favored by the average collector. This coin also is often 
found with the double profile. Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 
40 cents; very fine, 85 cents; extremely fine, $1.50; uncirculated, 
$2.50 to $3.50. Total coinage, 2,739,000. 

1834 Cent. In the coinage of the 1834 cent we still have the 
large and small lettered reverses, but there are also other distinc- 
tions as to size of date and stars which must be taken into consid- 
eration therewith. There are three recognized varieties — the large 
date, small letters and small stars, which is probably the scarcest ; 
the small date, small letters and large stars, and the large date, 
large letters and large stars. The double profile also will be met 
with in this coinage, and there are a number of die breaks. The 
cents of 1834 are scarce in the higher states of preservation. 
Values : Very good, 25 cents ; fine, 60 cents ; very fine, $1.25 ; ex- 
tremely fine, $2.50 ; uncirculated, $4 to $6. Total coinage, 1,855,100. 

1835 Cent. The mintage of this date is found in three minor 
varieties, known as the large date, the small date, and the head (or 



I,ARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 23 

type) of 1836, the large date variety being least frequently en- 
countered. Choice cents of this date are growing quite scarce. 
Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 45 cents ; very fine, $1 ; ex- 
tremely fine, $1.75 ; uncirculated, $3 to $4. Total coinage, 
3,878,400. 

1836 Cent. The cent mintage of 1836 is really without vari- 
ety, but there are a number of different die breaks to the coinage 
of this year, and, as in the case of the 1804 cent, the perfect and the 
broken die practically have been accepted as two varieties by the 
majority of collectors. As to scarcity, any preference must be 
given to the perfect die variety, notwithstanding claims to the con- 
trary. The so-called scarcity of the broken die 1836 is more ap- 
parent than real and due to the fact that collectors of broken die 
varieties frequently secure from two to half a dozen of the broken 
die cents as compared to a single specimen of the perfect die va- 
riety, owing to the different positions on the coin in which the 
break occurs. I believe this fact accounts largely for the growing 
scarcity of the 1836 cent. Values : Very good, 20 cents ; fine, 50 
cents; very fine, $1 ; extremely fine, $1.75; uncirculated, $2.50 to 
$3.50. Total coinage, 2,111,000. 

1837 Cent. There are three varieties of this cent, called the 
plain hair cord with large letters on reverse of coin, the plain hair 
cord with small letters on reverse, and the beaded hair cord. The 
1837 ''penny" is quite a common cent in any variety, the coinage 
having been larger and the metal harder than in the mintage for 
the years immediately preceding. Values : Very good, 10 cents ; 
fine, 25 cents ; very fine, 50 cents ; extremely fine, 75 cents ; uncir- 
culated, $1.50 to $2.50. Total coinage, 5,558,300. 

1838 Cent. In the coinage of 1838 we have another cent 
without accepted varieties. Due to this cause, as well as to the fact 
that the mintage was larger than in any preceding year and the 
metal harder, we naturally find the coin quite common, even in the 
higher grades of preservation. However, for some reason, which 
I am inclined to attribute to the composition of the metal and its 
tendency to cause die adhesions, we rarely run across a specimen 
in which all the outlines are sharply struck and all the stars filled. 
Values : Very good, 5 cents ; fine, 15 cents ; very fine, 35 cents ; 
extremely fine, 60 cents ; uncirculated, $1 to $1.50. A sharp uncir- 
culated specimen with all stars filled probably would bring a trifle 
more than the latter quotation. Total coinage, 6,370,200. 

1839 Cent. The coinage of 1839 cents consists of five varie- 
ties, or, more properly speaking, of two types and four varieties. 



24 large united states cents 

Treating the mintage in chronological order, we first find the over- 
date, the 1839 over 1836, which is a very rare coin and seldom 
comes in a condition better than very good, and as such generally 
brings from $2.25 to $4 at coin auctions. What this coin is worth 
in the higher states of preservation must remain a matter of con- 
j ecture, as the sale of one or two specimens would not establish an 
average value. Next we find the 1839 cent with the head of the 
1838, which is rather scarce in extremely fine or uncirculated con- 
dition. Following this we have what has been termed the "booby" 
head, which is most readily recognized by the fact that there is no 
dash under the word CENT on the reverse of the coin. This va- 
riety may be classed almost as rare as an extremely fine or uncir- 
culated cent. Last of the varieties we have what is known as the 
"silly" head, which, like the "booby" head, derives its name from 
the expression of the face on the coin. The "booby" head and the 
"silly" head are readily distinguished by the facial expression, as 
well as by quite a marked difference in the tuft of hair on the fore- 
head. The "silly" head variety is slightly more plentiful than the 
"booby" head. And now we come to what is generally known as 
the 1839 cent with the head (or type) of 1840. This accepted term 
is, of course, to a certain extent a misnomer, as the cent was not 
struck from the 1840 die. On the contrary, it was struck in the 
latter part of 1839 and is in reality the precursor of the 1840 cent. 
I treat this type of the 1839 cent at greater length not because it is 
the rarest of the 1839 series, the fact of the matter being that it is 
more numerous than any of the others, but because it marks the 
advent of a new type of cent, a type which, with slight modifica- 
tions, continued until the coinage of big cents came to an end in 
1857. The bust has now again become smaller, the style of coiffure 
slightly changed, and the band inscribed with the word LIBERTY 
has been elevated at front and rear and now produces an almost 
perfect coronet effect. The change of type, however, is nowhere 
near as marked as that which came with the passing of the 1814 
cent and the introduction of the 1816. In giving the average val- 
ues of the 1839 cent I shall use double quotations on the grades 
above fine, the higher prices being for the two scarcer varie- 
ties. The overdate is left out of the equation, as I already have 
covered it as much as it is possible to do so. Values : Very good, 
20 cents ; fine, 50 cents ; very fine, 75 cents to $1.25 ; extremely fine, 
$1.50 to $2.75 ; uncirculated, $2.50 to $8. Total coinage, 3,128,661. 

1840 Cent. This cent exists in two varieties, termed the 
large and the small date 1840. There also is a fair foundation for 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 25 

the claim to a third variety, known as the medium date, but this so- 
called medium date is but a slight modification of the large date, 
not readily distinguishable unless the two coins are very closely 
compared, and hence the slight difference should be ignored. To 
be entitled to variety distinction the differences should be readily 
discernible to the eye and not require comparison with other coins. 
The small date is the scarcer of the two varieties in extremely fine 
and uncirculated condition and exemplary specimens of either 
date are hard to secure. There also are recut dates of this and 
other cents in the 1840 series, notably 1844 and 1846, which those 
who are specializing prize highly and for which, when the condi- 
tion warrants, they stand ready to pay prices which make the aver- 
age collector stand aghast. However, as this treatise is written for 
the average collector and not for the specialist, I shall not take 
these recuts into consideration in figuring price averages on any 
of the cents in the series in which they occur, dismissing them 
from the equation with this recognition and acknowledgment of 
their existence and the esteem in which they are held by a number 
of collectors. Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 40 cents ; very 
fine, 60 cents ; extremely fine, $1.25 ; uncirculated, $2 to $3.50. 
Total coinage, 2,462,700. 

1841 Cent. The coinage of this year is devoid of varieties, 
but the cent nevertheless will be rather difficult to find in extremely 
fine and uncirculated condition, as the mintage of 1841 was com- 
paratively small. Exemplary specimens were scarce even twenty 
and twenty-five years ago. Values: Very good, 15 cents; fine, 
45 cents ; very fine, 85 cents ; extremely fine, $1.50 ; uncirculated, 
$2.50 to $4. Total coinage, 1,597,367. 

1842 Cent. Two varieties, the large and the small date, are 
found in the cents of 1842, and they are about on a par as regards 
scarcity. Collectors will find either variety rather difficult to secure 
in choice condition. Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 35 cents ; 
very fine, 75 cents; extremely fine, $1.25; uncirculated, $2.25 to 
$3.50. Total coinage, 2,383,390. 

1843 Cent. Three well defined varieties mark the cent of 
1843, known respectively as the type of 1842, which is the more 
common variety ; the 1843 with the obverse of 1842 and the reverse 
of 1844, which is quite a scarce cent in better than fine condition, 
and the 1843 with both obverse and reverse of 1844. Values : Very 
good, 15 cents ; fine, 35 cents ; very fine, 75 cents ; extremely fine, 
$1.25; uncirculated, $2 to $3. These values are for the type of 



26 LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 

1842 ; the other varieties usually bring about 25 per cent above 
these quotations. Total coinage, 2,428,320. 

1844 Cent. The cent of 1844 is another of the series of large 
"pennies" which has no distinctive varieties beyond recut dates, to 
which sufficient reference has been made in the description of the 
1840 cent. Suffice it to say that the 1844 abounds in various types 
of the recut date. Exemplary specimen of this cent will be found 
rather hard to secure. Values : Very good, 15 cents ; fine, 25 
cents ; very fine, 40 cents ; extremely fine, 85 cents ; uncirculated, 
$1.50 to $2.50. Total coinage, 2,398,752. 

1845 Cent. Like its immediate predecessor, the 1844 cent, 
the 1845 coinage also is devoid of any generally accepted varieties, 
and, while this "penny" is not at all scarce in any condition up to 
extremely fine, it will be found rather difficult to secure extremely 
fine or uncirculated specimens which are sharply struck and show 
the strands of hair at top and points of coronet in full detail. Val- 
ues : Very good, 10 cents ; fine, 20 cents ; very fine, 35 cents ; ex- 
tremely fine, 65 cents; uncirculated, $1 to $1.75. Total coinage, 
3,894,804. 

1846 Cent. In the coinage of this year we meet with two well 
recognized varieties, the large and the small date 1846, and two 
additional varieties which are more or less generally accepted by 
the majority of collectors, namely, the tall 6 and the crosslet 4. 
There is good ground for the general acceptance of the latter varie- 
ties, as the differentiation is plainly discernible to the naked eye 
and does not require comparison with other cents of the same date. 
The large date is the scarcest of these varieties, being seldom of- 
fered in the higher grades of preservation. Values : Very good, 
15 cents; fine, 25 cents; very fine, 50 cents; extremely fine, 85 
cents; uncirculated, $1.25 to $2.25. Total coinage, 4,120,800. Re- 
cut dates abound in this cent. 

1847 Cent. No variety distinctions mark the 1847 cent and 
it is quite a common coin even in choice condition. Values : Very 
good, 5 cents ; fine, 15 cents ; very fine, 25 cents ; extremely fine, 45 
cents; uncirculated, 75 cents to $1.25. Total coinage, 6,183,669. 

1848 Cent. There are two accepted varieties in the 1848 
coinage of cents, known as the large and the small date 1848. The 
small date cent of this year is a rather rare coin and so infrequent- 
ly offered that it is difficult to place an average value upon it. In 
very fine condition it usually brings in the neighborhood of $5. 
Large date 1848s are plentiful in any condition. Values : Very 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 27 

good, 5 cents ; fine, 15 cents ; very fine, 25 cents ; extremely fine, 
40 cents ; uncirculated, 60 cents to $1. Uncirculated cents of this 
date, sharp and with original mint color, will at times bring as 
much as $2. Recut dates abound. Total coinage, 6,415,799. 

1849 Cent. There are no accepted varieties to the 1849 cent, 
but recut dates will be found in considerable numbers. Choice 
specimens of the 1849 "penny" are probably slightly scarcer than 
those of 1848. Values : Very good, 5 cents ; fine, 15 cents ; very 
fine, 30 cents; extremely fine, 45 cents; uncirculated, 75 cents to 
$1.25. Total coinage, 4,178,500. 

1850 Cent. No varieties. Values : Very good, 5 cents ; fine, 
10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; extremely fine, 25 cents ; uncirculated, 
35 cents. Total coinage, 4,426,844. 

[A great majority of the so-called uncirculated cents from 
1850 to 1856 will prove rather unsatisfactory to the critical col- 
lector. From the standpoint of beauty many of them are far in- 
ferior to choice very fine and extremely fine cents, due largely to 
their variegated colors and discolorations, and many of the cents 
classified as red have such an undesirable tinge of this shade as al- 
most to lead one to the suspicion that they may have been treated 
to a copper plating bath at some time or other during their history. 
This fact has been largely instrumental in keeping the value of 
later day uncirculated cents below the figures to which they really 
are entitled. While the auction average for uncirculated cents of 
these dates is 35 cents, choice uncirculated specimens, in true mint 
color, with all outlines and stars sharp, are worth anywhere, ac- 
cording to the dates, from 60 cents to $1.25, but the fact of their 
superior condition must be indicated to secure the price.] 

1851 Cent. Two varieties to this cent — the perfect date and 
the 1851 over 1881. The latter variety is due to an error in die 
cutting and it is quite a rare "penny." It usually brings from $3 
to $4 in uncirculated condition. The perfect date is very common, 
the mintage for this year being 9,889,707, the heaviest for any 
year during which the large U. S. cents were coined exclusively. 
Values : Very good, 5 cents ; fine, 10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; 
extremely fine, 20 cents ; uncirculated, 30 cents. 

1852 Cent. No varieties. Values: Very good, 5 cents; fine, 
10 cents; very fine, 15 cents; extremely fine, 20 cents; uncircu- 
lated, 30 cents. Total coinage, 5,063,094. 

1853 Cent. Without varieties. Values : Very good, 5 cents ; 
fine, 10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; extremely fine, 20 cents ; uncir- 
culated, 30 cents. Total coinage, 6,641,131. 



28 large; united states cents 

1854 Cent. No varieties. Values : Very good, 5 cents ; fine, 
10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; extremely fine, 25 cents ; uncirculated, 
35 cents. Total coinage, 4,236,156. 

1855 Cent. There are two accepted varieties to this cent, 
known as the upright or straight and the italic or slanting 55, of 
which the latter is the slightly scarcer coin. Values : Very good, 
5 cents ; fine, 10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; extremely fine, 30 cents ; 
uncirculated, 45 cents. Total coinage, 1,574,829. 

1856 Cent. This cent is marked by the same two varieties as 
its predecessor, the 1855 ''penny" — the upright and the italic 5s. 
In the case of this cent, however, the condition is reversed, the up- 
right 5 variety being least frequently encountered. Values : Very 
good, 5 cents ; fine, 10 cents ; very fine, 15 cents ; extremely fine, 
25 cents ; uncirculated, 40 cents. Total coinage, 2,690,463. 

1857 Cent. The last year of the coinage of large cents. This 
date also has two well marked varieties, the large and the small 
date, the latter being the scarcer in extremely fine and uncirculated 
condition. Although this cent long has been considered a scarce 
coin, in the lower grades, the scarcity is more apparent than real, 
there probably being more and greater hoards of this "penny" than 
of any other date of the series of large cents. Values : Very good, 
15 cents ; fine, 25 cents ; very fine, 40 cents ; extremely fine, 60 
cents; uncirculated, 85 cents to $1.25. Total coinage of cents in 
1857, 17,783,456, but this also includes the mintage of small cents, 
which no doubt far outnumbered the others. 



Perplexing Matter of Condition 



One of the most vexing problems that for years has confronted 
collector and dealer alike is the matter of proper classification of 
coins as regards condition, and no work on the subject of numis- 
matics, especially one upon large United States cents, and, more- 
over, one which essays to place an average value on the various 
dates and rarer states of preservation, would be complete without 
a detailed reference to this very important matter. Of late years 
there has been a growing tendency among a certain class of nu- 
mismatists to collect conditions rather than coins, and while this 
is to a degree commendable, yet, like everything else which is car- 
ried to extremes, it has brought two> evils in its wake which seri- 
ously threaten the growth of the science of numismatics. In the 
first place, the constantly growing demand for extremely fine and 
uncirculated cents, which are undeniably scarce and rare in the 
earlier divisions, especially the dates between 1793 and 1814, has 
led some dealers and cataloguers, in their desire to meet the wants 
of collectors of extremely fine conditions, toward an inclination to 
disregard the lines of demarcation which have been accepted for 
years. As a natural sequence to this we find, secondly, that the 
collectors who have been victims of overdescriptions grow hyper- 
critical and are constantly seeking what is rarely found to exist — 
an absolutely uncirculated or unblemished coin in an old date. 
They balk at anything short of this, and, failing to find what they 
seek, their further interest grows lukewarm. In the wild scramble 
for condition and nothing but condition many desirable fine and 
very fine coins, whose values are bound to increase appreciably in 
the near future, are being overlooked. I consider a collection of 
fine and very fine large cents, provided they are truly as described, 
such that no man need be ashamed of it, and I believe that he who 
follows this course will, should he ever feel compelled to part with 
his collection, find himself better off financially than the one who 
has been seeking the absolutely uncirculated specimens and mak- 
ing all sorts of deductions and allowances for the various imper- 
fections he is bound to find in a number of the so-called uncircu- 
lated and extremely fine "pennies" offered. And in this same con- 

29 



30 large; united states cents 

nection I wish to say that I would not advise a collector to secure 
any of the earlier date cents in a condition short of good or very 
good, and he should strive to get his cents from 1816 on in at least 
fine condition. 

There is another growing custom which should be met with 
condemnation or at least with serious disapproval. I refer to the 
tendency to list rare coins as "fine for date," "very fine for date," 
etc. Such a classification means absolutely nothing. There is only 
one positive deduction that can be made from such phraseology, 
and that is that the coins are neither fine nor very fine. The question 
next arises : Are they in reality very good or are they merely 
good ? When a coin is really better than very good, but lacks suf- 
ficient class to be termed fine, the terms "about fine," "almost fine," 
or "nearly fine" are justifiable, but there can be no excuse for the 
"fine for date" classification. All coins are on the same plane so 
far as condition is concerned, whether they are rare or common, 
two years or a thousand years old. 

In outlining the following synopsis of requirements for the 
various conditions of cents I am not taking any radical departure 
from the customs which have been generally observed in the past, 
but I believe the interests of all numismatists will be best served 
by insistence that this standard be maintained : 

Uncirculated — In the same condition in which the coin left 
the mint. If the coin differs in color from the mint red, color 
should be stated. Slight scratches or dents through accident do 
not debar the coin from the uncirculated classification if the coin 
is really uncirculated, but such defects should be described, as 
should also any planchet defects. If there is slight abrasion through 
cabinet wear, the extent of this should be fully mentioned. If the 
coin is lightly struck or off center either on obverse or reverse, or 
if there is any corrosion, the fact should be stated. 

Extremely Fine — Even the name precludes the admission of 
anything short of an unexceptionable cent to this classification. 
There may be slight indications of circulation, but these should ex- 
tend only to the high points, such as rim, point of coronet, etc. 
Strands of hair and face should give no indications of wear and 
reverse also should show merely slight traces. A poorly centered 
cent or one containing planchet defects naturally cannot be called 
an extremely fine cent. Consequently any such defects should be 
announced, as well as any existent corrosion, scratches, dents, 
bruises or discolorations. Any but the slightest wear on stars 
should be indicated. 



LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS 31 

Very Pine — As its name indicates, this classification is but 
slightly behind the extremely fine. Evidence of circulation and 
wear may be a trifle heavier, but still confined to the higher points 
or extreme top of hair, coronet, stars, etc. Abrasions should not 
show on the cheek and the individual strands of hair should be 
plainly in evidence. All dents, cuts, bruises, planchet defects, 
.scratches, and discolorations should be mentioned, and if the cents 
are much of! center or are corroded the facts should be indicated. 

Fine — While in this classification the lines are not so finely 
drawn, yet it should present a coin in an admirable state of preser- 
vation. Although we may expect more or less wear on the high 
portions and some slight nicks or dents, yet everything should 
show in satisfactory relief and strands of hair should not be badly 
worn. All bad nicks, dents, discolorations and evidence of corro- 
sion should be mentioned. 

Very Good — In this division we expect to find cents which 
show a moderate amount of wear, in which the higher portions of 
the coin are considerably worn, and which may have slight dents, 
bruises and nicks, but in which the relief is still preserved to a 
fairly satisfactory degree and the individual strands of hair are not 
entirely obliterated. Any serious defects or corrosion should be in- 
dicated. For instance, any coin in which a portion of the lettering 
is obliterated could not possibly be termed a very good coin, no 
matter how admirable the preservation of the remainder of it. 

Good — Somewhat below the very good classification, much 
abraded, and even face and low points showing considerable' wear. 
Some dents, nicks and bruises may be expected in this classifica- 
tion, and while all the relief has suffered considerable encroach- 
ment, yet sufficient remains to make the coin to a degree acceptable. 

Very Fair— Entire relief greatly affected, but all portions of 
coin still visible. Dents, nicks, scratches, slight corrosion and dis- 
coloration may be expected. Not a desirable coin except in scarce 
or rare dates. Dates must be visible. 

Fair — Relief almost worn away, but most everything de- 
cipherable. Many imperfections may be expected and not an ac- 
ceptable coin except in the case of the great rarities. Dates even 
in this classification must be visible. 

Poor and Very Poor — Not worth placing in a collection. Fit 
only for the melting pot, and usually referred to as "junk" by 
both dealer and collector. 



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